4×4² LITE: Still One of Our Favorite Builds
Let’s face it, comparing this build to a vehicle with portals is like comparing a C-class to an S-class; pretty similar in many ways, but very different in some key aspects. The portals gear reduction helps to maintain your original horsepower and torque. The gear ratio helps push the larger/heavier tires. The ABS wheel speed sensors in the portals prevent ABS or ESP codes, whereas lifted G’s with 33’s or 35’s may throw codes and even try to brake a wheel when cornering (which pulls the car suddenly and that can be frightening). With portals, the speedometers is still accurate, while 35’s on a lifted Gwagen causes the speedometer to be off by 15%. The portals give owners the width they want, so a crazy offset and/or spacers to fill the massive fender flares are not required. Another benefit to portals is the height and axle clearance, which is much better for off-road than lifting the vehicle (with the axles in their original position near the ground).
With all of that said, the 4×4² LITE Conversion is pretty cool. Between the tires and suspension, it’s more than a 6″ lift — about half of what the 4×4 Squared is compared to a stock G. That 6″ difference means two important things: most people can get in the vehicle (even without the electric side steps) and it fits in most garages and/or parking structures.
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It could be the much lower center of gravity, or perhaps the wider wheels with 35″ tires instead of 37’s, but this vehicle seems to handle much better than the G55’s, G63’s, and G65’s we’ve done with portal axles and suspension lifts. Those trucks sit about about 6″ higher than this, or 12″ higher than stock. Another plus for the 4×4² LITE.
Would we rather have a 4×4 Squared or a G63 with the portal axle conversion? Yep. But in terms of practicality, the 4×4² LITE has it’s advantages, and in terms of cost, it’s a much lower bar. For those reasons, it’s still one of our absolute favorites.
